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October 13, 2009

CareerTech is win, win, win

Woodward’s three tiers of education were honored Monday afternoon during the Woodward Chamber of Commerce Luncheon.

Woodward Public Schools, High Plains Technology Center and Northwestern Oklahoma State University- Woodward were represented at the luncheon, and State Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education Dr. Phil Berkenbile was the guest speaker.

As High Plains Superintendent Don Bird introduced the director, he said, “A lot of people think we have one of the best Career Tech programs in the world and we believe that we have one of the best directors in the world.”

Berkenbile, who has been the the state Career Tech director for five years, said one in five Oklahomans have had some kind of career and/or technology training and the demand for Career Tech is only growing.

Currently 12,000 students are on a waiting list to get into a Career Tech program, he said.

“By 2010 we estimate we will be short over 200,000 health care workers, even in the down economy. We have to train and work together meet these needs. Economic development isn’t just about Oklahoma City and Tulsa, it’s about rural Oklahoma. We have to find ways to secure business and industry in this part of the state. Helping Oklahoma not just survive but thrive in this economy,” Berkenbile said.

He added, that stimulus money will help fill some holes for a few years, but “the only way is to grow our economy is to meet those needs.”

Whether you are a high school student, an adult wanting to further your education, a company owner wishing to expand services, or an offender waiting to be released from prison, Oklahoma’s Career Tech system has something that will help you in your career.

Berkenbile said they are very proud of their prison programs that have been proven effective.

“Sixty percent of people incarcerated don’t have a high school diploma. If they go through our programs, after five years those students are still on the job and out of prison,” he said.

Another positive has come from a new “Cooperative Alliance” agreement that allows college credit to be earned for certain Career Tech courses.

“Last spring, students earned 37,000 hours of college credit . . . at $8 per credit hour. Through our Free and Reduced List, many can go for free. Students can acquire an associates degree in high school, then go on to get further post secondary education if they want. Our programs benefit students, benefit parents and they benefit the work force too,” Berkenbile said.

He said Career Tech is also important for people who drop-out of high school, and for retired people who are coming to learn something new.

Berkenbile ended his speech with a quote from Mark Twain and said, “Every time you close a school, you will have to build a jail.”

He agreed with the quote and said, “It’s up to everyone in Oklahoma to help solve those problems. As far as I’m concerned Career Tech will do everything we can to solve those problems. Reaching children at an early age, correcting mistakes and providing them good nutrition not only for today, but for the future. They mean it all, they are the most precious commodity we produce in Oklahoma.”

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